Archive for ADMINISTRATION – Page 9
Goal: “Leave them better off than when they came to us”
Dr. Lisa Rhine
Yavapai Community College president Dr. Lisa Rhine addressed the College District Governing Board in June on concerns she has about courses and programs that might not lead to a living wage. Furthermore, she informed the Board that she is directing efforts at the College to ensure, as much as possible, that students who enroll at the College at don’t end up in a worse position when they leave the institution than they were when they entered.
Dr. Rhine addressed her concern about students who begin College but for a variety of reasons drop out and leave without a degree or certificate. However, they may be left with a student loan debt and a possible feeling of unworthiness. She said the College had a “responsibility” to not let that happen.
She also addressed her concern with programs and courses that do not necessarily lead to a living wage. She said she has linked her business division with some of those programs to encourage entrepreneurship. For example, she envisions students taking jewelry courses also learning how to successfully open their own jewelry shops. Or those at the Culinary school in Sedona gaining the skills of a chef while also learning how to build a successful restaurant business..
You may view her presentation to the Governing Board at the June workshop on this topic below.
Some restrictions remain; unvaccinated should wear masks and social distance
Based on Governor Ducey’s Executive Orders, CDC metrics for school reopening, and the success of the Community College’s implementation of CDC mitigation strategies, it has now moved to Code Green mode. This is the third of a four-phase plan to combat Covid-19.
Under Code Green, Yavapai Community College will continue to follow guidelines from The Center for Disease Control (CDC) as it pertains to COVID-19 safety protocols. It has updated its safety protocols to reflect that fully vaccinated individuals are not required to wear masks or social distance while at College campuses and centers. Also, per CDC guidance, unvaccinated individuals should wear masks and social distance while on College premises to help protect themselves and others. All other YC COVID-19 safety protocols remain in effect.
Carver governance policy approach replaced (at least in part) with streamlined structure that uses more understandable language and reduces amount of staff time needed to provide Board with information
Goodbye Carver model of policy governance–at least in part.
The Yavapai Community College Governing Board met at the Sedona Center on June 3 for a workshop. After working throughout the day, it had accomplished the following:
- Received one-hour update from President Dr. Lisa Rhine on the “State of the College.”
- Unanimously approved sending nomination letters on behalf of President Lisa Rhine and faculty member Andrea Schaben to the Association of Community College Trustees. The letters are for consideration for the annual Chief Executive Officer Award and the annual William H. Meardy Faculty member award.
- Approved 4-1 a new President’s Evaluation tool.
- Approved 4-1 Board Self-Assessment tool that will be administered by the Association of Community College Trustees at a cost of about $3,000 per assessment.
- Unanimously approved a completely revised District Governing Board Policy Manual with the understanding that beginning in the fall the Board will hold workshops to possibly revise any portion of the Manual.
- Unanimously approved an Advocacy and Community Relations Plan.
- Approved 4-1 a temporary plan to divide the monthly public meeting into two segments: One two-hour session called a “Study Session” and a third one hour session called a “Business Meeting.”
A major advantage of the new policy governance approach, it is claimed, is to reduce the enormous amount of time the Carver model of governance placed on staff to fulfill all of its various reporting requirements.
However, many of the changes raised controversial questions about the language used to describe the Board’s governance and the effectiveness of a particular provision. More discussions about the new model will be provided in later Blog postings.
Road serves from 30 to 40 residences in the area who own it and rejected turning the mile or so road over to the Town; provides access to upper Vineyard; College wisely built its own road on its own land earlier this year that leads to the vineyard
There is a road stretching about a mile or so from the public Black Hills Drive in Clarkdale into an area called Haskell Springs. It has an old asphalt road that is still owned privately by the 30 or 40 homeowners in the area. Anywhere from 50 to 75 or more vehicles a day may use the road. The residents have refused to give up control of the road to the Town of Clarkdale. As a result, they are responsible for its repair.
Over the years the road, which provides access to the Yavapai Community College’s upper vineyard , has fallen into a dangerous disrepair with potholes estimated at more than a foot deep in some places. These can easily seriously damage an unwary driver’s automobile’s undercarriage. To repair the road, residents set up a private fund raising campaign.
So far, the campaign has raised more than $86,000 dollars in pledges and contributions. Yavapai Community College contributed $11,000. The head of the campaign thanked the Community College but said the College isn’t receiving anything new as a result of its donation.
In what appears to be a wise move by the Community College, it completed construction of a gravel access road to the upper vineyard on the Verde Campus earlier this year. (See photo in April 1, 2021 Blog posting.) The new road will provide students with greater access to the upper vineyard directly from the Verde Valley Campus.
Source: Story by Jason W. Brooks, Verde Valley Independent Newspaper, p. 3, April 14, 2021.
Pre-covid College was $10 million short to meet planned capital needs not counting emerging needs
Yavapai Community College provided its perspective on how the ten-year development plan, approved 4-1 in December 2012, has progressed in a memo presented to the Governing Board at the March meeting. Note that it says the College was PRE-COVID about $10 million short of the capital funds to meet existing projects, not counting emerging needs. The memo is reproduced below in full.
Industry certification testing now available after yearlong hiatus
Yavapai County residents required to take professional certification tests can get them done by appointment and in person at Yavapai College, which opened its testing centers March 23.
The Centers, which have been closed for nearly a year because of pandemic restrictions, reopened March 23. Depending on the type of testing, County residents can make an appointment today at either the Prescott campus or the Verde Valley Campus in Clarkdale. Exam appointments and testing center schedules are available by accessing the Testing Center website, yc.edu/testing
Among the types of third-party or industry testing available include those for mechanic (ASE), emergency medical service (NREMT) and pesticide-use industries (METRO). Available tests by industry also are listed on the website.
During the pandemic-induced closure of the YC testing center – the only one of its kind in Yavapai County — individuals needing professional certification tests have had their credentials held up, or sometimes waited months to get tested in other jurisdictions, said Norma Ortega, Coordinator of YC Testing Services. “That’s why we need to let people know that we’ll be open by appointment.”
Many industry certifications are directly tied to employment and wages, Ortega said, citing teacher, mechanic and emergency medical technician certifications. Mechanics, for example, have to keep their certifications current. “And that can lead to a pay increase or to be able to actually apply for a job.”
In industries that use pesticides, workers cannot do their jobs without certification, Ortega said, noting that lack of access to professional certifications “has been very inconvenient for a lot of people.”
Area residents are reminded that face coverings are required for in-person testing and other current college COVID-19 protocols will be followed.
Along with the tools to make an appointment for an in-person test, additional information is available on the website. “Contact information is there too in case there is a need for additional assistance. We can sort it out for them,” Ortega said.
The YC Testing Center website address again is: yc.edu/testing.
Over 50% of expense will flow to Prescott Campus; Administration to cut back on projects in effort to find money to cover these costs
Yavapai Community College Vice President Clint Ewell delivered a sobering message to the District Governing Board regarding the need to find $14 million over the next three years if it is to properly maintain its facilities County-wide. Well over 50% of the maintenance costs will go to the Prescott Campus.
Dr. Ewell said during his presentation on this topic that “we are really one of the best maintain colleges in the country at this point, which is great because we think that’s the way to lower the total cost of ownership; by not having any system failures that then lead to kind of secondary repairs that cost additional money.”
He also said that he was concerned that so much of the needed upkeep was coming due “right now.” One of the reasons is that a significant amount of the construction on the Prescott Campus goes back to 2000 when a $69.5 million General Obligation Bond was approved. Repairs are needed as some portions of the facilities are coming near the end of their useful life.
The Community College will be cutting some projects in an effort to generate cash to meet the maintenance needs. The video clip below may help explain the financial problem faced by the College. The complete context of this discussion can be viewed on the video posted by the Community College District Governing Board with its March 2021 minutes on its website.
Expects outstanding bond obligations to be paid off in next few years
Yavapai Community College Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services, Clint Ewell, reported to the District Governing Board at its March meeting that the College’s bond indebtedness was quickly moving toward total payoff. He said that bonds issued in 2000 were now completely paid off as of this year and bonds issued in 2012 were close to being completely paid off.
He also reported that the College had saved “about $200,000 over the next four years” by taking advantage of low interest rates and reinvesting.
Bonds were used eight years ago to finance the demolition of one residence hall on the Prescott Campus and to renovate and modernize the remaining two. According to Dr. Ewell, since the renovations, the two residence halls have been paying for themselves. “It has been a really good success story,’ he said.
Bonds were also issued to cover the costs of constructing a chiller plant on the Prescott Campus and the central plant on the Verde Valley Campus.
Finally, the General Obligation Bonds issued in the amount of $69.5 million back in 2000 for major County-wide development are now paid off. As the payoff on the bonds over the years has continued, the secondary property tax that Yavapai County taxpayers pay on bond indebtedness has been significantly reduced.
The report was very good news. Sufficient to cause Board Chair Deb McCasland to suggest that “we have a party.”
You may view Dr. Ewell’s report in the video clip below or you may go to the Community College District Governing Board website where the entire meeting is on video.
This is third phase of its five phase re-entry program; significant safety requirements remain; Governing Board members led by Chris Kuknyo commend Dr. Rhine on handling Campus during pandemic
Dr. Lisa Rhine announced in a March 11 Covid-19 video update (see below) that the Community College is moving forward on its re-entry plan that it adopted to combat the Covid-19 pandemic on Campus. The third phase will have the Community College using its “yellow” phase code immediately after spring break.
This will be the first time the Community College has reached level three since it set up its five-phased re-entry program several months ago. The yellow phase will allow for many more in-person classes. However, a significant number of restrictions remain including mandatory mask wearing in buildings and outside buildings if social distancing cannot be observed.
The Yavapai Community College District Governing Board, led by Representative Chris Kuknyo, commended Dr. Rhine at the March Board meeting on her handling of the pandemic.
You may view all of the details associated with the re-entry plan by going to yc.edu/reentry or clicking here. You may also view Dr. Lisa Rhine’s explanation for moving to the third phase along with all the details associated with it in the video clip below.